SONY VAIO VGN-CR11SR/P Notebook: Life in Rosy Colors. Page 7

Our today’s guest is a notebook from SONY that differs from most of its competition by its color scheme in the first place. Instead of boring traditional greys and blacks, its case is of shiny pearl pink color. Read more about this solution in our new review!

Testing Methodology

I had the opportunity to test the Santa Rosa platform under two OSes, Windows XP and Windows Vista because Sony’s website offered Windows XP drivers. So, the CR11SR/P was tested alone under Windows XP and together with the Dell Vostro 1400 under Windows Vista.

In the first part of the tests the notebook’s hard disk was formatted in NTFS. Then I installed Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2 with DirectX 9.0c and system drivers (from the manufacturer’s website), and Windows Media Encoder 9.0 with Windows Media Player 9.0. We also install Windows Media Player 10.0 for such tests as PCMark 2005.

The following settings are used during the tests:

Power-saving services – Off

Audio subsystem – Off

Network services – Off

Maximum screen brightness

Maximum display resolution (1280x800)

Windows Taskbar is Unlocked

Windows Taskbar hides automatically

Classic Desktop theme

No background image on the Desktop

No screensaver

Low security level

Pop-ups blocking disabled

There were two exceptions: I returned to the Windows XP desktop theme for PCMark 2005 since the program required that. And for SYSMark 2004 SE to work normally, I had to roll each parameter back to its default (as they are set right after you install Windows).

Two power modes were used. First, I selected the Always On power mode for maximum performance and the shortest battery life. Then I switched to the Max Battery mode for the maximum battery run-down time.

I used the first two modes as they are in Battery Eater, but in the Idle mode (when the test utility doesn’t put any load of its own on the notebook) I played a DVD movie.

In the second part of the test I installed Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate x86 and drivers (from a prepared system recovery disc) on the notebook’s hard disk formatted in NTFS.

The following settings were used:

Sidebar – Off

Welcome Center – Off

Screensaver – Off

Windows Defender – Off

System Protection – Off

Windows Update – Off

Scheduled defragmentation – Off

User Account Control – Off

Maximum screen brightness

Maximum display resolution (1280x800)

Aero interface

Windows Vista desktop theme

10% volume level

Two power modes were used. First, I selecteded the High Performance power mode for maximum performance and the shortest battery life. Then I switched to the Power Saver mode for the maximum battery run-down time.